Markets research explains micronutrient use

Globally, agriculture micronutrients application has gained importance in the recent past due to its effectiveness on overall quality and productivity of crops. The deficiency of micronutrients has increased worldwide due to intensive cropping pattern, extensive use of chemical fertilizers, mining of micronutrient reserves and extensive irrigation facilities, notes the Research and Markets company.

Agriculture micronutrient market growth has increased to a significant extent because of increasing global micronutrient deficiency in soil and industrialization leading to shrinkage in world's agricultural land.

In 2011, Asia-Pacific was the largest market accounting for 53 percent of overall agriculture micronutrient market by volume. North America and Asia-Pacific together accounted for 73 percent of the global market volumes in 2011.

North American agriculture micronutrient market is expected to show potential growth in the next five years. The deficiency in micronutrients content results in stunted growth, withering of buds, yellowing of leaves, etc. In 2011, zinc dominated the overall global agriculture micronutrient market and accounted for 35 percent of the market.

Research and Markets explains cereals, fruits and vegetable crops are the major consumers of agriculture micronutrients, and with increased population, demand for cereals has also increased substantially over the past two decades.

Soil application, foliar and fertigation are the three application modes of agriculture micronutrients. Soil application has the largest share in the global agriculture micronutrients market. Micronutrients are applied in chelated or non-chelated form. Non-chelated micronutrients form has dominated the global market with 94 percent usage while chelated form has only 6 percent share.